My water garden was of humble beginnings. I still recall how on that really hot Sunday afternoon, I took out an egg crate I kept for years and started building the rock surfaces. The Abandoned House was crying out for a water source and it was between a well and the deep blue pond. I chose the pond.

The pond's first life after I laid the tiny pebbles and poured some E-6000 over, was a plastic plant from an old project called "Heaven For Dead Cars". I wanted something special amidst the foliage so I thought, why not a lone stalk of pretty flower?

The rare orchid in my myriad flora collection was the obvious choice. This was a flower made by a Thai artisan bought from a stall in my favourite flea mart, Chatuchak Market in Bangkok. I think it is a variety of the super rare Lady Slipper Orchid.

The next weekend, I poured more glue into the pond. This time I used an epoxy mix from Elmer's that promised Super Fast something. It wasn't very super anything nor fast.

I was soon bored watching glue dry so I decided then my pond would be a water garden. I found more discarded flowers, like the lotus buds and placed them into the middle of the pond.

These rather realistic succulents which I love, I planted at the side of the pond.

These dried flowers were souvenirs I plucked when I was in Australia. I knew I could use them in one of my projects someday.

Rambling reeds, another plucked apart dried flower and the pure white paper lotus in full bloom were additions I made on the 3rd weekend when I poured the last layer of E-6000. The glue had bubbles teeming, suggesting vibrancy and life.

When I brought the house out for a shoot and the various plants by the pond started swaying in the breeze, for a moment there as I looked through the lens of my camera, I saw myself standing over my water garden, dreaming up poetry and enjoying the wind in my hair.

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comments:

Oh, such a rare orchid in your garden! :) :) I am always enjoying watching your projects (but of course you know about it, no?) Although the glue was, as you wrote, neither super and nor fast, the effect is soo pretty!I love the way you use real dried plants.:) Second live they have. :)Hugs and kisses from all of us over here.

How lovely!! Hard to believe you made it with egg crates... so serene! You have inspired me to create a pond for my addamses! And soon they will have a front yard. Its amazing the life it breathes into a project! Love it! -Ara

Oh dear, Susan, you have created a small "secret garden" of your own, it's so beautiful, also due all the unknown and rare plants/flowers you've used :)! It's gorgeous and your writing fits perfectly to this blog, thank you!Lady Elizabeth and you are a perfect gardening couple ;)!Hugs, Ilona

What a wonderful pond... I bet if we were really silent... and I mean really silent... then we would here the water muttering about life and nature. Beautiful work - and I'm kind of thankful that second glue was not that super at all because this made you think your pond over and to create a water garden. The glue-water looks fabulous... and would you believe that lady-slippers orchids even grow wild in Germany? But they're very rare and absolutely protected - so take good care of yours!

My Dear Sans! I cannot find words to tell you how happy it makes me to see you playing with water again! And your plants...! We have the elusive and very rare lady slipper orchids in this part of the world....They only stay if they really Love the place they are....! And they are forbidden to pick or move! So it is a joy to see that one has chosen to blossom by your pool! I am slowly working up my courage to try landscaping in mini... I made a flower a few weeks ago! LOL! If only I did not get so lost in my stories... maybe I would finish things faster! But I have your example to learn from... take an egg carton and pour in the glue! Add stems and leaves... and a pond is born!! I am always so happy to see what you are making... I learn so much! :)

My Dear Sans! Your little pond with the bubbling water and the water lilies and the exotic Lady Slipper nodding over the pool, is all Delightful! It perfectly suits the corner of the garden of the Abandoned House. I love the way that you have stayed true to your theme of Reclamation and Regeneration. The Artist is making the garden reflect the quiet, simplicity and serenity that the interior has in abundance, and thus it would carry through that the garden should have the same. And It is Beautiful Sans! :D

Dear Sans! So wonderful to see these lovely photos! You have made miracles again The rare orchid has found its place and I can almost hear the sound of the water and the scent of the flowers!Do I have your newest address? HugsKikka

You created once again a wonderful poetic piece. A beautiful addition to the Abandoned House. Dear Sans, you are a real magician turning glue into water, transparent plastic boxes into rustic metal gardens.. What next?A big hug, Drora

I know how you have once used real flowers for one of your dolls' hair :). I keep my real plants aside for at least a year for me to make sure that they will last. If I want to retain the colours, I use acrylics but sometimes after 2-3 years, they still may fade like the sea lavender, so I will need to touch up. But I just love how real flowers are so imperfect and irregular and random. :)

And about flowers, our National flower is an orchid called Vanda Miss Joaquim, named after the lady who cross bred this particular flower.

Many of the real plants were collected by me when I was running or walking, whether here in Singapore or when I travelled. Of course, they have to be mini-able. They often brought back memories of that instant when I spotted them :)

Birgit, I still think about Wankerdorf a lot. It has created such a deep impression with me. From the comments here, I see that Lady Slipper is valued and treasured all over the world. This was also the prettiest orchid that I have seen so far. I just bought it in my last trip. :)

Bets, you are a real life gardener (and a damn good one too) and I have no doubt at all that you can and will create a remarkable mini garden, no, I mean, many gardens for all your projects. How many are there now? At least 5, I believe?

It appears that I am quicker only because I rarely make my flowers from scratch. Where that is concerned, you are far superior and will be miles ahead of me! I am constantly learning from you! :)

Elizabeth, I am so glad you came over to take a look at my pond and then gave me your views. They are important as I know what a master you are at creating mini gardens!

I am sure everyone is being kind too and generous with their compliments. To be honest, when I first posted the pictures, I saw many faults. Too big, too small, too much, too little! too much of the same ....haha.

Splish, splash, splish...!I just couldn't help myself from dropping into you little water garden.... maybe I am a frog leaping about.... or a dragonfly on the lotus petals...Or perhaps I am just the breeze whispering a "hello" as I fly by....!:)

ME

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These blogs chronicle my journey into the wonderful world of miniatures.
"The Beginning" is the prequel to it all, the one that triggered my obsession with the weird and wonderful world of doll houses.
"My Maharajah's Palace" is a journal of the trials and tribulations en-route to the building of my Indian Palace.
"Projects, Musings & AOB" is like my workroom or scrapbook of anything minis.